Aerosol dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A conventional aerosol dispenser of medicament as an oral spray is encased within a plastic cylindrical casing. A cylindrical dispensing nozzle is pivoted on the casing for movement to a nondispensing position in which it is an axial extension of the casing, and to a dispensing position at a right angle to the casing. In the latter position depression of the nozzle effects discharge of a medicament spray.

United States Patent Donald E. Lipl'ert Woolwich, Maine;

Wilfred Goldschmidt, Syosset, N.Y. 846,402

July 31, 1969 Oct. 5, 1971 Geigy Chemical Corporation Ardsley, N.Y.

Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee AEROSOL DISPENSING APPARATUS 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl ..222/402.2l, ZZZ/402.11, 222/536, 222/553 Int. Cl 865d 83/00 Field of Search .111:

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,023,230 12/1935 Hutton 222/537 3,184,115 5/1965 Meshberg 222/183 Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-John P. Shannon, Jr. Attorney-Townshend & Meserole ABSTRACT: A conventional aerosol dispenser of medicament as an oral spray is encased within a plastic cylindrical casing. A cylindrical dispensing nozzle is pivoted on the casing for movement to a nondispensing position in which it is an axial extension of the casing, and to a dispensing position at a right angle to the casing. 1n the latter position depression of the nozzle effects discharge of a medicament spray.

PATENTEIJUET 5 I97! w m m 3 6 W W M u O m E 5 m W F H Cl U H A CL. D 7 7 l E l m mm 2 3 H\ AIL q u Wm .4l. TIL mw DW 4 5 H 1% l l M AEROSOL DISPENSING APPARATUS BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the art of atomizer medicators of the oral inhalation type, by which a fluid medicament may be selfadministered from a portable container. The medicament is discharged from the container in the form of a spray delivered as a separate, predetermined, dosage quantity at each application.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art with which the present invention is directly concerned is replete with portable atomizers which, in general, individually comprise a casing that houses a container of liquid medicament for discharge under pressure of a propellant gas in the container and with which it is mixed to form a spray. Valve-controlled discharge is effected through a nozzle which projects laterally from the main body of the casing. This angular relationship makes the assembly unduly bulky and militates against pocket or purse trhansportation; so that in most cases it becomes merely another home medicine cabinet encumbrance.

In an effort to eliminate the awkward lateral projection of the dispensing nozzle the prior art has developed a package arrangement in which the aerosol container casing and the dispensing nozzle are detachably coupled in axial alignment when in nondispensing, carrying position. However, in order to use the atomizer the dispensing nozzle must be removed from the casing and then reattached thereto in dispensing position extending laterally from the casing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an aerosol dispensing apparatus constituted as a small cylindrical package designed so that it may be carried in a pocket or purse without fear of accidental dispensing operation. The package comprises a substantially cylindrical casing which houses a medicament container of the conventional aerosol type, and a substantially cylindrical tubular dispensing nozzle coupled to the casing by means permitting manual movement of the nozzle through a limited arc of oscillation about which an axis is inclined to and intersects the longitudinal axis of the casing. At one limit of its arc of oscillation the nozzle is in nondispensing position as an axial extension of the casing, and at its other limit of oscillation the nozzle extends laterally from the upper end of the casing in dispensing position at substantially a right angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the casing. The aerosol container casing and the dispensing nozzle are pivotally connected in such manner that when it is desired to operate the aerosol the package may be converted from nondispensing carry position to fully operative dispensing position simply by turning the dispensing nozzle in a counterclockwise (unscrewing) direction. This action automatically carries the dispensing nozzle from its initial position as an axial extension of the easing into its dispensing position in which it projects laterally from the casing.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is perspective view of an assembled atomizer in its initial nondispensing position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the atomizer in dispensing position.

FIG. 3 is an axial sectional view of the atomizer in its FIG. 1 position.

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view of the atomizer in its FIG. 2 position.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 4, but illustrating a stage in dispensing operation of the atomizer.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A medicament container 10 of the copventional aerosol dispenser type is housed within a cylindrical casing 11 that is open at its upper end with its top edge 12 lying in a plane which intersects the longitudinal axis of the casing at an angle of substantially 45. On the known aerosol dispenser here shown, a manually depressible tubular stem 13 operates a valve (not shown) to discharge through the stem a predetermined dosage quantity of medicament mixed with propellant gas following each depression and release of the stem. The upper end of valve stem 13 has force-fit communication with a bore 14 in the body of an adapter 15. The upper end portion of bore 14 is directed laterally at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the casing 11 and opens to the apex of a conical diffusion chamber 16 from which a mixture of medicament and propellant gas is discharged as a spray upon each service operation of the aerosol.

The adapter 15 is a cylindrical tubular member freely slidable axially within the open upper end portion of the casing II but not rotatable therein. In effect, the adapter 15 is a pistonlike member having a head 17 occupying a plane parallel to the inclined plane of the top edge I2 of casing 11. A cylindrical skirt l8 depends from the head 17 and is provided, as best seen in FIG. 5, with external axial ribs 19 that slide in complemental grooves in the inner wall face of the casing 11 and prevent relative rotation between the adapter and the casing. The parts of the assembly thus far described are so dimensioned that when they are in initail, nondispensing position they occupy the relative positions shown in FIG. 3, with the upper face of the adapter head 17 lying flush with the top edge 12 of casing 11. As hereinafter explained, the adapter 15 is an operating member for the dispensing valve (not shown) of the aerosol, acting through the valve stem I3.

A tubular spray-directing nozzle 19 is carried by the adapter 15 and is connected thereto for rotation bodily on an inclined axis which intersects the longitudinal axis of the casing 11 at an angle equal to the angle at which the inclined plane of the head 17 of the adapter intersects the longitudinal axis of the casing. In the embodiment of the invention herein shown, the connection comprises a central stub axle 20 integral with the head 17 of the adapter and extending from its upper face on an axis of inclination that is normal to the plane of inclination of the face of the head. Axle member 20 is in screw-threaded engagement with a hub 21 integral with the inner end of the nozzle 19.

The foot (inner end) of the nozzle is formed with an exter' nal horseshoe-shaped flange 22 that partially encircles the foot as best shown in FIG. I; leaving a toe portion 23 unflanged In the carry position of the parts as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the casing 11 and the nozzle 19 are in axial alignment with the toe portion 23 of the nozzle seated on and over the complemental underlying area of the casing top edge I2 at its low side, and with the horseshoe flange 22 seated on and over the remaining underlying area of the casing top edge. This relationship of the parts defines one limit position of the arc of oscillation of the dispensing nozzle. It will be apparent from FIG. 1 that when the parts are in carry position the abutting engagement of the dispensing nozzle flange 22 and toe portion 23 with the top edge 12 of the casing renders impossible any inadvertent depression of the nozzle relative to the casing; thus assuring that no discharge of medicant can possibly occur while the atomizer is in nondispensing carry position.

Furthermore, it is apparent from FIG. 3 that when the parts are in carry position, with the container 11 and the dispensing nozzle axially aligned, the interior wall of the dispensing nozzle completely covers the diffusion chamber 16 of the adapter 15 and seals it against intrusion of foreign matter.

While the package is in carry position as seen in FIGS. I and 3, it is not possible to effect a discharge of medicament from the container 10, as previously explained. When it is desired to effect a dosage discharge of medicament spray the nozzle 19 is turned counter clockwise in an unscrewing action which automatically carries the nozzle to its dispensing position as seen in FIG. 2. In this dispensing position of the parts of nozzle 19 will have been rotated through an arc of 180 so that'its toe portion 23 assumes the position shown in FlGS. 4 and 6. During this unscrewing action the hub 21 of the dispensing nozzle is backed off the stub axle 20 of the adapter to space the inner end of the nozzle from the inclined head 17 of the adapter, giving a clearance space therebetween that is sufficient to permit depression of the nozzle to its FIG. 6 position. Depression of the nozzle correspondingly depresses the adapter head 17 to push down the valve stem 13 and thus actuate its valve to condition the dispenser for discharge of a predetermined quantity of medicant spray when pressure on the nozzle is released to permit return of the nozzle to its raised position as shown in F IG. 4.

We claim:

I. A medicament-spray-dispensing package comprising in combination: an aerosol container including a value means, a cylindrical casing housing said container and include an open upper end the edge of which lies within a plane obliquely inclined to and intersecting the longitudinal axis of said casing, a closure member coaxially slideably disposed within the upper end portion of said casing the including a top face obliquely inclined in a plane parallel to the plane of the adjacent edge of said casing, means defining a discharge orifice in said closure member in communication with said medicament container, a tubular dispensing nozzle moveable between dispensing and nondispensing positions, said nozzle including a bore through which medicament may be selectively dispensed, means defining an inner end portion on said nozzle including an obliquely inclined portion complementary to said obliquely inclined portion of said casing and means interconnecting said casing and said nozzle for relative rotational movement of said nozzle circumferentially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said casing between substantially coaxial nondispensing and substantially transverse dispensing positions.

2. A medicament-spray-dispensing package comprising in combination a casing for housing an aerosol container, said casing including an open upper end the edge of which lies within a plane obliquely inclined to and intersecting the longitudinal axis of said casing, a tubular dispensing nozzle rotatively moveable between dispensing and nondispensing positions and including a bore through which medicament may be dispensed, means defining an inner end portion on said nozzle including an obliquely inclined portion complementary to said obliquely inclined portion of said casing means mounting said nozzle on said casing for rotational movement with respect thereto wherein said obliquely inclined portions of said casing and said nozzle are parallel to each other in all relative positions.

3. The dispensing package defined by claim 1 wherein said obliquely inclined portions of said casing and said nozzle are in contact with each other in said nondispensing position and in spaced parallel relation to each other in said dispensing position.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 1 610 1 Dated October 5 197].

fls) Donald E. Lipfert and Wilfred Goldschmidt It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 3, line 18 "value" should be valve Col. 3, line 23 "the" should be. d

Signed and sealed this 9th day of May 1972.

(1mm) A1; be s L;

EDWARD M.FLJ:!;TCHER,JR. ROBERT GOT'I'SCHALK At to :2 Li ng Office r' Commissions of Patents ORM PO-IOSO (10-69! USCOMM-DC 6D376-PB9 U 5 GOVERNMENT PRlNTlNG OFFICE v 19.9 O366-334 

1. A medicament-spray-dispensing package comprising in combination: an aerosol container including a value means, a cylindrical casing housing said container and include an open upper end the edge of which lies within a plane obliquely inclined to and intersecting the longitudinal axis of said casing, a closure member coaxially slideably disposed within the upper end portion of said casing the including a top face obliquely inclined in a plane parallel to the plane of the adjacent edge of said casing, means defining a discharge orifice in said closure member in communication with said medicament container, a tubular dispensing nozzle moveable between dispensing and nondispensing positions, said nozzle including a bore through which medicament may be selectively dispensed, means defining an inner end portion on said nozzle including an obliquely inclined portion complementary to said obliquely inclined portion of said casing and means interconnecting said casing and said nozzle for relative rotational movement of said nozzle circumferentially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said casing between substantially coaxial nondispensing and substantially transverse dispensing positions.
 2. A medicament-spray-dispensing package comprising in combination a casing for housing an aerosol container, said casing including an open upper end the edge of which lies within a plane obliquely inclined to and intersecting the longitudinal axis of said casing, a tubular dispensing nozzle rotatively moveable between dispensing and nondispensing positions and including a bore through which medicament may be dispensed, means defining an inner end portion on said nozzle including an obliquely inclined portion complementary to said obliquely inclined portion of said casing means mounting said nozzle on said casing for rotational movement with respect thereto wherein said obliquely inclined portions of said casing and said nozzle are parallel to each other in all relative positions.
 3. The dispensing package defined by claim 1 wherein said obliquely inclined portions of said casing and said nozzle are in contact with each other in said nondispensing position and in spaced parallel relation to each other in said dispensing position. 